Outside, Michael located Helena at the designated location she had sent him, and the two came face to face once again.
“Where is the child?” he asked, panting heavily. “Why didn’t you inform us before taking the child away?”
Helena was also extremely anxious, but upon hearing this accusation, she immediately became upset. “What are you saying? I should be the one asking how you couldn’t even keep an eye on a child,” she retorted.
Michael’s fury caused his temples to throb. His teammate restrained him. “Enough arguing. Where is Grape?”
Only then, somewhat reluctantly, did Helena lead them to the courtyard house. The dim light gradually faded, taking away the last bit of sunlight from the room. Dexter sat in a corner, engrossed in a book, absentmindedly flipping through the pages.
The little girl, just over a year old, lay quietly on the nearby table, staring blankly at the carp in the fish tank.
The companionship between the two was a rare combination of tranquility and harmony. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. It was Larry, and he hurried in. “Mr. Russell, I will take the child away immediately.”
Grape pouted and looked up. “Has Mommy come to find me?”
Larry smiled and replied, “Yes.” He then lifted her up. “We should go.”
Turning around, Grape bid farewell to the gloomy man in a formal manner. “Goodbye, Mister.”
Dexter gave a slight lift of his eyelids, acknowledging the situation.
Grape stumbled a few steps forward, then seemed to remember something. She pulled her hand free from Larry and returned to Dexter’s side. “Mister, Mommy says eating candy makes you happy. You should be happy. You look unpleasant when you’re frowning.”
With that, she slipped a piece of candy into Dexter’s large hand.
Dexter furrowed his brows, scrutinizing her in an unexpected manner. She had already left with a spring in her step, leaving behind a cheerful silhouette.
Larry quickly followed suit.
Outside, when Michael and the others saw Grape safe and sound, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. “You little rascal, you scared us to death. How could you just go off with someone you don’t know?”
Grape answered earnestly, “It was I who secretly followed Hellie. You all are too boring. I like Hellie.”
Upon hearing the truth from the child, a hint of surprise flashed across Michael’s face. He then turned to Helena. “I apologize. I misunderstood.”
Receiving an apology from her future teammate, Helena was momentarily taken aback. She waved her hand dismissively. “Just be more careful in the future.”
She was young, and her face was full of vitality. When the setting sun shone on her, half of her face turned red.
Instinctively, Michael averted his gaze.
Meanwhile, Josie and Lachlan had already followed their route. The more they looked at the building, the more they felt something was amiss. “This should be a separate courtyard house of the hotel, a private domain for the wealthy. How did it end up here…”
While still in doubt, she saw Michael and the others leading the child out from a building in the courtyard.
“Mommy!”
After being out of sight for half a day, the little girl called out sweetly and threw herself into her arms.
Josie embraced her and asked, “Where did you go with the boys?”
“We had fun.”
Josie smiled, tilting her head back to say to the teenagers, “Thank you.”
On the way home, Lachlan drove while Josie sat in the back seat, cradling Grape. She casually asked, “What did you do with the boys today?”
Grape was engrossed in playing with her long hair, responding in a childish voice to a few questions before finally saying, “I saw the young lady from yesterday and a very strange man.”
“Strange?”
“Absolutely! He was quite fierce, yet incredibly handsome. I told him you would definitely like him if you saw him!”
Josie was taken aback when she heard that.
